Frustration with importing trees

Hello, first time gardener been reading a few topics here and there on this forum for a little while.

So recently my family and I have started planting a few trees here and there and I have been able to find the majority of the trees I had wanted in my local nurseries. Well, try as I might I have not been able to locate any Sudachi trees or any of the Specialty Italian lemon trees. What I have found is Four Winds Growers in California. When I contacted them about a phytosanitary certificate they told me to talk to my local ag specialist. So I have talked to 2 different specialists in Whatcom county who told me it needs to be done in the place of origin ie California.

Well I've already tried to do everything I can legit, is this a common occurence?

 

It is true that the phyto certificate is supposed to come from the shipper. Due to the "paperwork" involved very few US suppliers will ship to Canada. There is also the problem of shipping as - from personal experience - it can take up to two weeks for plants to arrive from the US (international shipping involved here), and the shipper will not guarantee the health of the plant.
The other problem you are dealing with is that due to SOD (sudden oak death) in California, it is VERY difficult to get anything out of California or into Canada from California. But I am assuming you would be dealing with a reputable supplier. In which case there is a "loophole" for getting plants into Canada without the certificate, but there is also a chance that you could still loose the plant.

I am assuming the plant in question will not be too big and will be kept inside as a houseplant. If your supplier is willing to ship the plant to a US address that is different than your billing address (TSB Shipping in Point Roberts Washington comes to mind) you can then drive across the border, pick it up and return to Canada with your "houseplant". I also find it is also alot less expensive to ship plants within the US from one state to another (being Washington) than to ship internationally into Canada from any state.

There is nothing illegal about this as I have spent a lot of time communicating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding importing plants and have been given the following information:
There shouldn't be any trouble at the border, because the border agents would be using AIRS as their reference and all the requirements are in
there. If you check HS code "060290-002299 Other - houseplants
(houseplants, for personal use and not for resale, excluding
chrysanthemum).", "Travellers and personal use...", from Washington,
you'll see that it says the plants are approved.
The catch is that the plant MUST accompany you at the time of entry, and by doing so no phytosanitary certificate is required. Do not try to hide anything from the border guards and let them know you have a "houseplant" - I place mine in the back seat of the car so that they can see it.

* Just remember there is still always a slight chance that you could still loose the plant at the border. All depends on what kind of mood the border guards are in.

FYI, AIRS is the automated import reference system that will take you through, step by step, what is required for importing plants etc.

Hope this helps.